Church work restarts months after contractor left

Work on a church that inspired an LS Lowry painting is due to restart, after a contractor left the job unfinished three months ago.

Christ Church in Maryport, Cumbria, was in the process of being refurbished by Aura Heritage when its contract was terminated in June.

It is understood this was linked to a petition to wind up the company.

Cumberland Council, which is leading the project, has announced the appointment of Thomas Armstrong Construction Limited to finish the Grade II listed building renovation.

Christ Church is due to become the new home of the town's Maritime Museum, which is currently operating from a shop on Curzon Street.

Delays to the project mean the museum's move, scheduled for this summer, has been delayed until next year.

The council has also announced volunteers who run the museum will have to vacate their temporary unit to make space for an expanding business.

A spokesman said the museum would close on 27 September for "an extended winter break", with the exhibition going into storage.

Peter Stevenson, chairman of Maryport Maritime Heritage, said he was looking forward to reopening in the new venue.

Thomas Armstrong Construction Limited is due start work on the inside of the 152-year-old church to apply a specialist lime plaster, new floor, and repair and clean the windows.

Mark Fryer, leader of Cumberland Council, said the need to change contractors was "unfortunate" and the delays "frustrating".

"We want this job done properly and perfectly and we look forward to [the contractor] finishing the work on this landmark building," he added.

The Gothic-style building was listed by English Heritage in 2020 and and a painting of it by LS Lowry sold for £81,000 in recent years.

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